From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Jade, her concern for Rosa paramount, rushed past the creature to check on her fallen comrade. The creature's voice followed her, dismissive yet informative, "Don't worry, food, I can't take enough energy to make it fatal, but she will be tired for a while. I won't be as secretive as you, pesky vermin.

I'm only as strong as those I am fighting in THIS form, and I don't want to alarm any of the Angelic bastards... not that they seem to care, regardless. Better they stay ignorant on these things and focus on whatever it is they do."

Jade, frustration mounting, managed to ask, "And what exactly are they supposed to do?"

The creature gave her a peculiar look, its curiosity piqued. "And what would you want to know for, little foodling?"

"First off, stop calling me food," Jade retorted sharply, "Second, all I know about the Angelic race is my boyfriend, Ty, is that they can't be trusted at any cost. Do you know who he is?"

The creature appeared perplexed for a moment before admitting, "No, I can't say I have."

Disappointment tinged her voice as she continued, "He mentioned he was in the Demon King's realm trying to get back here."

The creature paused, then scoffed, "Now that's a good joke, like a mere human could ever make a trip like that. Maybe your counterparts, the Titanians, could under the right circumstances, but never a human," it laughed dismissively.

Confused and defensive, Jade pressed, "Wha-what does that even mean?! I'm not lying!"

The creature studied Jade with its hollow eyes, a contemplative gesture as it placed its sharp hands under its chin. "Huh, you sure don't look like someone who is lying..." it mused aloud, its tone shifting slightly.

"I will have to check with the King, but maybe there are a few reasons this planet has been able to hold off the invasion."

With a tone that hinted at both a threat and a peculiar form of respect, it continued, "Well, until next time, I hope to see you still alive at the end of this, you all. But really, you're all so weak I wouldn't be surprised to see you all turned into mindless walkers by the next time I visit."

Offering a twisted form of consolation, it added, "Keep that shard from me as a souvenir, from the worlds I have destroyed. The most common thing you humans do is keep relics as treasures or something pointless."

Jade, still supporting Rosa, who was now fully exhausted, holding onto the mere 3 energy she had left, questioned the creature further, "How can you destroy so many worlds, and the Angelic race never do anything about it, though? Ty mentioned shortly, they were trying to collect his soul. Wouldn't the people you kill be having their souls collected?"

"For such a lowly human, you sure do ask all the right questions," the creature responded with a tone that suggested both surprise and a hint of respect. "To put it simply… we devour the souls of those we kill and send an empty shell in return. Those shells get recycled into new souls for new worlds that are being born."

The creature's explanation revealed a grim cycle of destruction and rebirth, a method that seemed both efficient and horrifying. "I won't bother explaining everything to you, but our methods are tried and true. As long as they don't find a reason to come by personally. And even if they did, The King of Nothing is untouchable. Even the Angelic God can't manage to grasp him."

As the creature began to step through the portal, Jade, driven by a sudden impulse, asked, "And what would happen if an Angelic person did show up?"
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With a sinister grin, the creature replied, "Then I could let loose and have a real meal!" Its words were a chilling promise of destruction and chaos should such a confrontation ever occur.

"Until next time, fodder." With those final words, the portal zipped closed, leaving Jade in the silence of the aftermath.

Rushing to pick up her dropped cross, Jade reflected, "To think I was going to use this to get a surprise attack in on him… but I hesitated because these eyes didn't show me any opening."

Realizing her reliance on her enhanced vision might be a double-edged sword, Jade mused on her predicament. "I really am relying on these eyes too much, and it could really—" Her thoughts were interrupted as she reached Rosa, cross in hand. "V, let's get Rosa back to the base and get her resting in the infirmary. And I might need a few stitches due to that gash."

V nodded, his face serious, and replied, "Just be happy you didn't see him back in the Vale Realm. He has a fetish for causing torture."

Jade shuddered at the thought, shaking her head. "That's just terrifying," she remarked, her gaze falling to the shard she had torn from the creature's face. With her normal vision returned, she pondered aloud, "Hey V, I wonder if I could study this crystal and grow more of it?"

V, accustomed to Jade's unorthodox thinking and approach, responded with a hint of admiration. "Nothing would surprise me with you anymore, Lady Jade."

Rosa, her eyes fluttering open slightly, managed a weak but spirited remark. "The ugly blue Gremlin is right, you are full of surprises."

"Thanks… I suppose," Jade replied, a hint of exhaustion in her voice as she focused on the cross, facilitating their swift departure from the dangerous area. In a moment, they reappeared back in the waiting room, where the director was seated, his hands crossed over his chin in a posture of deep thought.

"I'm glad you made it out alive, Jade… I'm sorry," the director said, his voice carrying a mix of relief and regret.

Jade, still shouldering the responsibility for Rosa, gently placed her on a chair near the door just as the butler walked in. "Here you go, sir," Jade stated, placing the cross on the silver plate before the butler departed.

Turning her attention to the director, Jade offered a slight bow. "Sorry, sir, we failed to kill the creature."

The director, maintaining his thoughtful pose, delivered a significant decision. "I'm taking you off the front lines for the time being, Jade."